International Student Spotlight

Monday, February 6, 2017

International Student Spotlight: Jesus L. Avila

Jesus L. Avila

Major: Business Administration with International Business concentrationClass: SeniorWhy did you choose to come to CBU? I started college at Victory University and attended Victory until they closed down in 2014. I chose to continue my college education at CBU because CBU has a great International Business program.What do you enjoy most about being an international student at CBU? That I am different and that I have the chance to share different views with classmates and professors.What are your involvements at CBU or clubs did you join at CBU? I never joined a fraternity; I felt that it wasn’t my environment. And I never actually found a club or organization that was diverse enough in order for me to hang out with and learn from other groups in general. Overall, I feel like CBU students are segregated; it might be because of economic differences or color, but from what I heard from other students it’s both. However, one great thing about CBU is that the majority of the staff seem to be liberal and progressive.What advice do you have for new international students to help them adjust to life in the U.S.? Don’t lose your identity just to be part of the cool kids; share your identity. If you are coming from another country, it is more likely that your culture is very different from ours in the U.S. (I said ours because I have lived in the U.S. most of my life and the only thing that makes me international is that I was born in another country.)If CBU students visited your country, where should they go and why? My country has been constantly unstable for a while. The lack of economic opportunities has pushed people to instability. I advise them to visit the beaches such as Cancun, just like the rest of my fellow Americans do.What is the name of your favorite restaurant in Memphis? And why? Corkys. I mean, if there is a unique food from Memphis, it has to be BBQ.Do you have a hangout spot on campus? Where? Not really, I am usually at the library during finals or homework.What is your favorite class and why? Favorite professor? I liked every single professor, they were challenging and fair, they taught me a lot, prepared me to face the real world, and I will always be grateful for that.Is there anything else you think the CBU Community needs to know? I hope the next four years of freshman come united and not divided, if so I think CBU should really start programs to stop the segregated community, the division, and perhaps promote more diversity and a progressive environment among students, no one should pick between black and white, and I think it is good to have option and openness where people feel more comfortable. Overall, CBU has been a great University, and I will always be thankful.

If anyone wants to nominate a student for the Spotlight or if a student is interested in being in the Spotlight, they can email Stephanie Mathis, International Student Services Coordinator, at smathis@cbu.edu. Follow International Student Services on Instagram (@cbu_iss), Facebook (search for @issacadserv), and Twitter (@CBU_ISS)!